Biden Administration Action: Modified

Updates to National Interest Exceptions for Regional COVID Proclamations

This Biden administration action modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.

On April 8, 2021, the State Department announced that immigrants, fiancé(e) visa holders, certain exchange visitors, and pilots and aircrew traveling to the United States for training or aircraft pickup, delivery, or maintenance are eligible for National Interest Exceptions to the geographic COVID Presidential Proclamations (9984, 9992, and 10143).

Biden Administration Action: Modified

Extension of Validity for NIEs for Travelers

This Biden administration policy modifies the Trump-era policy identified in this entry.

On July 6, 2021, the State Department announced the expansion of its national interest exceptions to a 12-month, multiple-entry validity, effective immediately.  Previously, these exceptions were valid for 30 days and a single entry. The policy change affects exceptions issued under all of the existing COVID-19 regional travel bans.

This new policy is effective immediately and also applies to exceptions issued in the last 12 months as long as the foreign national’s purpose of travel remains the same as when the exception was initially issued.